Kara L. Kerr, Ph.D.
Dr. Kerr is an Assistant Professor in clinical psychology at Oklahoma State University and Associate Director of Training at the Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroscience. She obtained her Ph.D. from The University of Tulsa in 2017. Through her research, Dr. Kerr seeks to understand the neurobiology of adolescent internalizing disorders and to apply this understanding to prevention and intervention.
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Zsofia Cohen, M.S.
Zsofi is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. She graduated from The University of Tulsa in 2019 and completed a post baccalaureate research assistantship at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research studying mindfulness interventions for adolescents with early life stress. Currently, her interests include examining the neural markers of risk and resilience in early life stress and how parent-child relationships may mitigate the onset of anxiety and depression in these populations. She will be completing her predoctoral internship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2026-2027.
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Gabriella Atencio, M.S., M.B.A.
Gabriella Atencio is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with her BA in Psychology in 2021 and completed her MBA in 2022. Currently, her research interests include how childhood adversity and pubertal development influence neurodevelopment and mental health in youth. She is also interested in mental health in children with developmental disabilities.
Landon Edwards, B.S.
Landon is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2023. After graduating, he held a post baccalaureate research assistant position at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research until 2025, studying the use of real-time fMRI neurofeedback for rumination in young adults with depression. His current research interests include using different neurofeedback modalities to address emotion regulation difficulties in adolescents and the protective role of parenting in the development and maintenance of adolescent psychopathology.
General Leia Organa, C.G.C.A., D.M., D.S.X., T.K.N.
Leia is the LAB Lab. She is interested in positive reinforcement paradigms, particularly those involving food rewards. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, and, most of all, dock diving. She has earned her Community Canine (Canine Good Citizen Advanced), Dock Master, Dock Senior Excellent, and Novice Trick Dog titles.
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Current Research Assistants
​Makayla Anderson - Undergrad RA
Maddy Bushrod - Undergrad RA
Kat Cook - Undergrad RA
Mia Halcomb - Postbac RA
Phoenix Mohon - Freshman Research Scholar
Emerson Reichert - Postbac RA
Karla Solano Izaguirre - Undergrad RA
Bailey Tennison - Undergrad RA
LaTaja Wright-Rolle - Undergrad RA
LAB Alumni
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Kaley Armstrong
Abbi Bellatti
Kaitlyn Carlow
Kaleb Chesher
Azra Holland
Madyson Kirkendoll
Anahi Montes
Leslie Plateado
Rae Robinson
Corbin Woosley
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Postbacs & Research Coordinators
Hannah Caperton
Stormie Fuller
Leslie Garza
Tanner Stone
Tiffany Trimble
Graduate Student
Courtney Cooper